Scale up and optimization of process parameters for high gravity ethanol fermentation from a fresh water algae Rhizoclonium sp. of Trans Himalayas using Taguchi orthogonal array design, kinetics and modeling

Abstract

The optimization of agitation rate, aeration timing, substrate concentration for ethanol production from fresh water Rhizoclonium sp. algal biomass of Trans Himalayas by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was designed using an L9 (34) orthogonal array design. The results showed that the optimum condition for ethanol fermentation were A2B3C2 corresponding to agitation rate, 200 rpm, aeration timing 8 h and substrate concentration 40 g/lt. The maximum ethanol found in Run 7 at 48 h with 37.34 g/lt ethanol with fermentation efficiency of 71.15%. The modified Monod and Luedeking-Piret models provided a precise way for mathematical modeling of experimental data for optimum ethanol production.